Castform fell into deep thought.
From what Chingling said, every family member in this household was helping the family in their own way.
So the question was, what could it help everyone with?
Regarding this question, Chingling didn't know the answer either.
It thought carefully, then asked: "Ching?" (Do you have any moves you're good at?)
Castform shook its head: "Cast..."
It didn't know either.
Seeing Castform's expression, Chingling had a realization.
"Ching!" (You were just born by Mommy today—you haven't grown up yet! When you grow up, you'll know what you can help with. That's how it was for me!)
Chingling looked proud.
"Ching..."
Or, if that doesn't work, they could go ask Carver!
The two Pokémon made their decision and immediately returned to the breeding house, finding Carver who was studying the Berry Blender and making Pokéblocks.
With another addition to the breeding house population, plus the occasional traveling trainers staying over, the berries from the fruit trees in the backyard weren't quite enough.
To supplement the household income, Bewear had gone out to the wild to gather berries again.
While following the recipe steps to put berries into the blender and make Pokéblocks, Carver mentally planned to expand the berry orchard later and plant more fruit trees.
This way, Bewear wouldn't need to go out gathering berries anymore.
Seeing Chingling and Castform float in from outside, Carver raised an eyebrow and asked:
"What's wrong? Are you done touring the breeding house?"
Chingling replied happily: "Ching!"
"In that case, take Castform to get some good rest!" Carver said.
Newly hatched Pokémon needed plenty of sleep to grow properly.
When Growlithe first hatched, aside from drinking milk for nutrition, it had slept for quite a long time!
Although they were different species of Pokémon, Castform should probably be similar.
However, after hearing Carver's words, Chingling and Castform didn't leave.
"Ching!"
They seemed to want to tell Carver something.
Seeing this, Carver was stunned and somewhat surprised: "You have something you want to tell me?"
"Ching!" Chingling nodded hurriedly.
Carver immediately felt troubled—the problem was he couldn't understand Pokémon speech at all!
In the Pokémon world, human and Pokémon languages were completely different.
Except for some humans with special abilities who could communicate with Pokémon, only Pokémon capable of telepathy could convey their thoughts to humans.
Oh, he almost forgot—there was also that talking Meowth from Team Rocket!
It spent most of its time helping Jessie and James translate other Pokémon's language.
But the problem was, his cheat ability didn't have that function either!
Carver observed the two Pokémon and tried guessing:
"Are you hungry?"
However, Chingling shook its head.
"Then do you not want to rest and want to keep playing?"
"Ching!" Chingling continued shaking its head, looking somewhat anxious.
Seeing it anxious, Carver immediately became nervous: "Don't tell me bad people went to the backyard to steal Pokémon?"
This was no small matter.
While putting down the half-finished Pokéblock in his hands, Carver hurriedly walked outside.
However, when he reached the backyard, he saw nothing at all.
Carver: "..."
This was troublesome!
"Ching..."
Seeing that Carver seemed unable to understand what it was saying, Chingling deflated.
Castform beside it was even more at a loss for what to do.
Just then, Bewear returned from gathering berries outside.
However, instead of carrying a pile of berries as expected, it was holding a Pokémon that looked a bit like a small raccoon.
That was... a Zigzagoon?
"Bewear!" Bewear hurriedly placed the Zigzagoon on the ground.
Only then did Carver notice that the Zigzagoon wasn't moving at all and seemed to have fainted.
"What happened?"
While asking, Carver went forward to examine the Zigzagoon's body.
Zigzagoon's brow was tightly furrowed, looking very pained.
When Carver touched it, he discovered its body was burning hot!
It had a fever!
Carver used his ability to take a closer look.
[Pokémon: Zigzagoon]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Pickup]
[Moves: Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip]
[Status: Severely Injured, High Fever]
[Mood: Suffering]
[Joy Level: -50]
[Friendship: 0 (It doesn't know you yet)]
[Description: It hurts so much! —Zigzagoon]
Just as he had judged!
Carver hurriedly took out medicine to give the Zigzagoon emergency treatment, then retrieved herbs he had previously bought in Autumn Leaf Town from the cabinet.
These herbs didn't have healing or status condition curing functions, but they did have a very common effect.
Treating fevers!
Some human fever reducers contained components from this herb.
Similarly, if Pokémon had fevers, this herb could be used for treatment.
He ground the herbs into a paste, mixed it with energy-restoring Moomoo Milk, then helped Zigzagoon up and slowly fed it into its mouth.
After a while, Zigzagoon's tightly furrowed brow relaxed somewhat.
With the herb's help, it seemed less painful, and it slowly opened its eyes.
Then Zigzagoon saw the human in front of it.
"Don't worry, Zigzagoon. You're safe now," Carver said.
Whether from exhaustion or weakness, Zigzagoon didn't stay conscious long and soon fell into deep sleep again.
Carver carefully carried it to a Pokémon bed in the corner of the main hall, letting it rest there.
"Did you encounter it outside?" Carver asked.
"Bewear!"
Bewear nodded its big head.
It had originally wanted to gather some berries, but unexpectedly encountered this severely injured Zigzagoon on the road.
So without much thought, it directly brought Zigzagoon back to the breeding house for treatment.
"Probably attacked by other wild Pokémon and didn't receive timely treatment, causing the wounds to become infected and trigger a high fever," Carver recalled Zigzagoon's injuries and speculated.
From its condition, it would probably need to sleep for quite a while before waking up.
"Bewear, you don't need to go out today. Rest at home!" Carver said. "In a few days, we'll expand the berry orchard together and plant more fruit trees."
Carver had noticed before that there was actually a large area behind the inn. The original owner's parents had only sectioned off a small part for growing vegetables.
"Bewear." Bewear nodded, then sat on the sofa to rest.
"Oh right, I almost forgot about your matter!" Carver slapped his forehead, then looked at Chingling and Castform, saying to them: "If you have something to say, you can tell Bewear. I think it will help you."
Hearing this, Chingling's eyes immediately brightened—it had been dejected because Carver couldn't understand their speech.
It turned to look at Bewear and asked about what it wanted to know—namely, what Castform could help with at the breeding house.
Hearing this, Bewear scratched its head. It looked at Carver, then at Castform in front of it, and quickly recalled what Carver had told it some time ago.
[Once Castform hatches, it can use Rain Dance to help water the herb garden in the backyard!]
It knew the answer to this question, Bewear thought.
Carver continued using the Berry Blender to make Pokéblocks.
The Pokéblock manufacturing process wasn't complex.
With the machine running and following the recipe steps, Carver soon obtained blocks that were crystal clear and shaped like small cube candies.
[Pokéblock (Basic Type): Basic-type Pokéblocks that suit most Pokémon's tastes, suitable for Normal-type, Flying-type, and Fighting-type Pokémon. Decent taste, and long-term consumption can make Pokémon's fur more glossy and smooth.]
Oh, a beauty-enhancing Pokéblock!
Carver carefully examined the Pokéblock in his hand.
Visibly, there were quite a few impurities inside. Obviously, this Pokéblock's quality wasn't very high.
Bewear's typing was Normal and Fighting. Carver handed the Pokéblock to it and asked: "Try it and see how it tastes!"
Bewear took it and chewed it carefully in its mouth. Mm, the taste was so-so... It had eaten better-tasting Pokéblocks before.
But looking at the little master in front of it, Bewear couldn't bring itself to tell the truth.
This seemed to be the little master's first time making Pokéblocks, right?
It couldn't make the little master sad!
The next second, Carver saw Bewear in front of him light up as if it had tasted some heavenly delicacy.
"Bewear!"
Carver: "..."
Liar!
Bewear's joy level and mood clearly hadn't changed at all, and no little sun representing happiness had appeared above its head.
This meant the Pokéblock's taste hadn't reached "delicious" levels—it could only be considered average.
From Bewear's behavior, it obviously didn't want to make him sad.
Carver didn't expose it. He looked at the Pokéblock in his hand, planning to go back and continue researching to make higher-quality Pokéblocks.
Just then, a familiar bird cry suddenly came from outside.
Carver turned to look and saw a familiar figure land by the breeding house window, looking in through the glass.
It was that Taillow that provided him with information—it had returned!
Carver's mind stirred. He looked down at the Pokéblock in his hand. What perfect timing!